The Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor that combat
veterans can attain, was inaugurated during the Civil
War. After the war, Francis E. Brownell twice put his
name forward to receive the medal and succeeded a third
time with the help of his congressman. Brownell received
his decoration in 1877, inscribed with his name and organization.
He returned the medal to the War Department, with the
request to describe the action. He was given a new medal,
inscribed: The Congress to Sergt Frank E. Brownell,
11th N.Y. Vol Infy for gallantry in shooting the
murderer of Col. Ellsworth at Alexandria, VA, May 24,
1861. Although Brownell received his medal long
after the event, his medal marked the first action in
the Civil War to merit the award.

History of the History of Technology, Armed Forces History
National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Behring Center
Bequest of Francis Brownell